Swami Chinmayananda Coloring Page (07)

Coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda

Coloring page of Guruji.
Click on the image and print.

Swami Chinmayananda (06)

A coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Swami Chinmayananda (05)

A coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Swami Tejomayananda Coloring Page (1)

Click on the picture and print.

Chinmaya OM Coloring Page (04)

Click on picture and print. (Enlarge to 160% if you want to fill the page.)

Swami Chinmayananda Coloring Page (03)

Click on the picture and print.

Swami Chinmayananda Coloring Page (02)

Click on the line art and print.

Swami Tapovan Maharaj Coloring Page

Click on the line art picture and print.

Pujya Gurudev Coloring Page (01)

Click on the line art picture and print.

OM Tracing Card

This OM is meant to be laminated (8.5 x 11) so that the children can practice writing their strokes correctly. We like to use Crayola Washable Markers on the lamination sheet, so that it can be easily washed off for the next writing session. Dry Erase Markers also work well -- you just need a bit more elbow grease to get the sheet clean. Having the children color the OM can also be a nice way for them to quieten their minds and meditate on God.

श्री राम Tracing Sheet

We use this in class for the children to practice Japa Writing. 

To Print: Click on the image below to view full-size. Print.

Lotus Flower

This project is dedicated to Gurudev

For balavihar classroom or personal use only
©jmg 2010

This flower is created with watercolor paper, which is quite easy to find — art stores, craft stores, and even stationary stores carry many different varieties. Watercolor paper is a fabulous medium to work with! It's possible to make very lovely and durable sculptures with just one sheet, some water, and careful maniupation.

Materials

• Watercolor paper

• Paint brush

• Water

• Color (water colors, water soluable art pencils, tempera paints, etc.)

• Decorating items, — glitter glue, acrylic gems, sequins, and/or lace

Directions
1. Print out the template below 3 times.  One is printed at 100%, one at 90% and one at 80%. You may scale them to any size you desire, just make sure all three are reduced/enlarged at the same percentage.

2. Cut out the 3 templates.

3. Trace them onto the watercolor paper.

4. Cut out the 3 shapes.

5. Color or paint each tier.

6. With the largest shape, take some water (using either a paintbrush or your fingers) and lightly cover each side. Take each leaf and roll it gently inwards until you get the desired effect.

7. Follow step 6 with the other two lotus tiers.

8. Decorate with gems or glitter.

9. Let dry.

10. Once all the pieces are dry, glue the three pieces together with a small dab of glue on the bottom of each tier.

Click on the template image below and print.

Lord Ganesha Pop-Up Card

This project is dedicated to Gurudev
©jmg 2008 For personal use only
Summer Camp 2009, 2010

Click on picture to view enlarged.

This card is not difficult to make at all – don't be discouraged by the number of assembly steps listed below.  Balavihar summer camp students (of all ages) made oodles of these. Adult supervision, however, is needed for cutting with an exacto knife.

Materials

• 1 Cream color greeting card (and envelope) 5 x 7*

• 1 Cream colored card (for pop-up structure) 4 1/4 x 5 1/2*

• Light color cardstock (for printing template image below)

• Gold foil

• Glue stick

• Scissors

• Exacto knife (adult supervision)

• Rhinestones, sequins, etc. (for decorating Lord Ganesha's crown)

• Gold gel pen
• Markers or colored pencils

* Fold a piece of sturdy cardstock for the card. Cut size to measurements listed above.

Directions

1. Print the image (below) onto a light colored cardstock.

2. Cut out the head, ears and pop-up template.

3. Fold the ears and head on the lines where indicated (dotted lines.)

4. With the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card stock (in the folded position) , place the pop-up template on top. Make sure to carefully line the template onto the fold of the card.)

5. Trace the solid lines onto the folded cardstock. These lines determine the crown and head of Lord Ganesha.

6. With a pair of scissors, cut on the solid lines. Do not cut on the dotted lines.

7. Once you have made your cuts, fold the two shapes on the dotted lines. The top shape is the crown, and the bottom shape is Lord Ganesha's head.

Open the card and push the shapes in. Click here to see how it is done with a traditional pop-up card.

8. With the exacto knife (and adult supervision) you will be making 3 slices into the folded cardstock:

a)  The first two will be vertical cuts on either side of Ganesha's head — these cuts are where the ears will be placed. Make sure that your cuts will be long enough to insert each ear into.

b) The next cut will be horizontal, positioned about 1/5 to 1/4  down from the top of his face. This cut is where the trunk goes.

9. Once you have your cuts made, insert the ears and the trunk. Make sure to securely glue each flap on the back side of the card.

10. The trunk will create a natural fold when you close the card for the first time. Once the trunk has been folded, you can glue the tip of the trunk to the inside paper where it touches when the card is in the closed position.

11. Now you are ready to glue the inside folded card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) to the outside card (5 x 7). Position the pop-up card inside the larger folded card, making sure that it is centered nicely. Open one side of the outer card and glue the inner card. Make sure to not glue the cut out areas, otherwise your card will not pop-up. Gently lay the outer card down on the inner card and rub thoroughly with your hands. Turn the card over and do the same to the other side. Click here to see pictures of gluing the folded papers together.

12. Decorate your Lord Ganesha — and then make another!

Solid lines represent cutting lines.

Dotted lines represent fold lines.

Click for full-page view. Print on cream colored cardstock

Heart Pop-Up Card

This project was used to accompany "L is for Love" in our Kindergarten class. Pop-Up cards are always a big hit ...

Materials
2 Greeting Cards — 1 larger and 1 smaller in size.*
Glue Stick
Scissors
Markers, Crayons, and/or stickers for decorations

*If you prefer to cut your own cards to size, make sure you use a card-stock weight paper. The larger card should have a margin of 1/4 to 1/2 inch on all 3 sides. This will make it easier for the children to glue the inner card (pop-up structure) to the outer card.

Directions
1. On the fold of the smaller card, draw two lines that resemble 1/2 the side of a heart. See Picture A for example.

Picture A


2. With scissors, cut on the two lines.
3. Fold the heart down. (This will the pop-up easier to work with.) See Picture B for example.

Picture B


4. Open the card and pop the heart up. See Picture C.

Picture C


5. Decorate the heart with crayons, stickers, etc.
6. Center the pop-up card inside the larger card.
7. Working with one side of the card only, glue the entire surface of the smaller card — making sure to not glue the cut out region. See Picture D for example.

Picture D


8. Lay the outer card down gently and smooth with your hand.
9. Turn the card over and repeat steps 7 and 8.

Origami Lotus Diya

©jmg 2008

Click on image to view enlarged.

This project is perfect for kids of all ages.

Materials

Gold foil wrapping paper (or origami paper)

Chocolate kisses

double sided tape

Click here for video directions on YouTube

We prefer cutting our own origami paper from rolls of foil wrapping paper. 6 x 6 makes a nice sized lotus. (However, don't make them smaller that 5 x 5 -- or the paper will be too hard to fold.) Once your flower is made, take a small piece of double sided tape and stick in onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss. Place the chocolate in the center of the lotus. These make lovely little Diwali gifts.

Krishna Paper Bag Puppet

Click on image to view enlarged.

Let the children create their own puppet of Lord Krishna using just a few materials.

Materials

Blue lunch bag

Blue construction paper

Black construction paper

Scraps of decorative paper (in different colors)

Sequins, lace, etc.

Feathers

2 Wiggly eyes

Glue stick

Markers

Scissors

Directions

Each child gets a blue paper bag -- and the rest is left up to them. Put different materials on the table and let them choose how they want to create their own Lord Krishna (or Lord Rama.)

Japa Mala

This mala was designed for the kindergarten Balavihar class. Our lesson was "J is for Japa."

Materials
• 27 beads of your choice
• 1 meru bead — a little larger than the japa beads. (The center hole must be able to fit 2 pieces of yarn.)
• One piece of yarn (six stranded crochet cotton is good)
• Elmer's Glue

Directions
1. Dip one end of your cotton thread into the Elmer's glue. Roll the glued end between your fingers until it starts to form a hardended tip. Do the same to the other end. (see photo A below)
2. With one end of the cotton thread all 27 beads. (see photo B below)
3. Take both ends of the cotton and insert them through the meru bead. (see photo C below)
4. Make a big knot at the botton of your meru bead. You might have to knot a few times to make sure that the the knot is bigger than the hole of your bead.
5. Trim the cotton ends to a desired length.
6. You can make a simple tassle by untwisting both ends of the cotton.

* If you want to make a japa mala consisting of 108 beads, the technique is the same. To make an authentic mala a knot must be tied between each bead. (see photo D below)

Photo A












Photo B













Photo C
















Photo D

Spinning Top

Make your very own spinning top which spins like a dream! This project was created for the kindergarten's Alphabet Safari. Our subject was "E is for Enthusiasm."

Materials

• White poster board
• Green poster board

• Crayons or markers

• Drinking Straw

• 1 bead (that fits snuggly into the straw)

• Tape

• Pencil
• Glue Stick

• Scissors

• Awl or sharp pencil

Directions

1. Print out diagram below. Cut out the circle and the rim. (These will be your templates.)

2. Trace templates onto poster board.

3. Cut out the circle and the rim which you traced onto poster board.

4. Decorate and color the circle with crayons or markers.

5. Glue the rim onto the base circle.

6. Cut the straw to about 3 1/2 – 4 inches in length.

7. Put the bead into one end of the straw. It should fit snuggly and have about 1/2 of it showing outside the straw. (This is the part that makes it spin nicely.)

8. With an awl or a pencil, pierce a hole into the center of the disc. Make the opening no larger than the diameter of the straw.

9. Put the straw through the hole.

10. It's a good idea to tape the straw on the backside of the disc to hold it in place. (This helps to give the top more balance and momentum.)

11. Spin!!!

Click on the image below to view template full-screen. Print.

Hanumaan Puppet

© 2008 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Brown paper bag

1 Sheet light colored cardstock (for printing templates)

Brown construction paper (for head)

Light brown construction paper (for mouth)

Dark Brown construction paper (for hair and tail)

Small piece of black construction paper (for end of tail)

Gold Foil*(for गदा, gadaa)

Black Marker

2 Googly eyes

Gold sequins

*If using gold foil for the gadaa, glue the foil onto a piece of sturdy cardstock first. This will provide nice stability. After gluing it onto cardstock, trace the template and cut out.

Directions for assembly

Click on image for full-page view.

Print the template below onto light colored cardstock.

1. Cut out template pieces and trace them onto corresponding colored construction paper. Cut out.

2. Glue mouth onto head. Draw mouth and nose.

3. Glue head onto bag.

4. Glue hair onto head. Decorate with sequins

5. Glue eyes. Draw eyebrows.

6. Glue tail onto bag.

7. Glue the gadaa.